Scientists looking for water pollution have discovered opioids are infiltrating marine life near Seattle.KIRO reports scientists testing the Puget Sound for pollution discovered trace amounts of oxycodone in mussels. The Washington Department of Fish and Wild takes clean mussels from an island cove and places them in urban water they want to test for contamination. There was enough oxycodone in Elliott Bay to test positive. After people take oxycodone, some of it goes into the toilet and eventually ends up in wastewater. “What we eat and what we excrete goes into the Puget Sound,” said Jennifer Lanksbury, a biologist at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. “It’s telling me there's a lot of people taking oxycodone in the Puget Sound area. The contamination is likely coming from wastewater treatment plants." The water is filtered, but the system is not able to clear out all contaminants, specifically drugs. In addition to the opioids, mussels tested positive for antibiotics and antidepressants. “Those are definitely chemicals that are out there in the nearshore waters and they may be having an impact on the fish and shellfish that live there,” Lanksbury said.These mussels won't be sold and consumed, because mussels sold in restaurants or shops come from clean locations. However, Lanksbury said it is a sign of what's ending up in water and affecting marine life.

SEATTLE, Wash. —

Scientists looking for water pollution have discovered opioids are infiltrating marine life near Seattle.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wild takes clean mussels from an island cove and places them in urban water they want to test for contamination.

There was enough oxycodone in Elliott Bay to test positive. After people take oxycodone, some of it goes into the toilet and eventually ends up in wastewater.

“What we eat and what we excrete goes into the Puget Sound,” said Jennifer Lanksbury, a biologist at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. “It’s telling me there's a lot of people taking oxycodone in the Puget Sound area. The contamination is likely coming from wastewater treatment plants."

The water is filtered, but the system is not able to clear out all contaminants, specifically drugs.

In addition to the opioids, mussels tested positive for antibiotics and antidepressants.

“Those are definitely chemicals that are out there in the nearshore waters and they may be having an impact on the fish and shellfish that live there,” Lanksbury said.

These mussels won't be sold and consumed, because mussels sold in restaurants or shops come from clean locations.

However, Lanksbury said it is a sign of what's ending up in water and affecting marine life.